It's illegal to use the word Bowl preceded by the word Super because the phrase has been trademarked by the NFL. They hate Las Vegas, so go out of their way to keep it from being mentioned in the course of televising football games, but sometimes it sneaks in, and that gets a mention in the local paper.

The prohibition is not just Las Vegas-related though, I also see it in snack food advertising, so you've probably seen it in your local area.

Anyhow, we are having my cousin Betsy over to watch the Big Game. Betsy is in the dog house lately for allegedly calling her staff person 'an effing bitch.' But she supposedly used the real word. The family members are all surprised because we didn't know she knew that word, and we're all saying 'where did she learn it?' as if she was in kindergarten. I'm sure she hears it at work and bowling, she's 62 years old, after all, but it was a surprise. As for the b-word, I'm a little less surprised, because political-correctness aside, I don't think it's the worst word in the world. Sometimes it fits.

There was a blow up over this around Thanksgiving when Betsy had us go over and help her decorate her Christmas tree. The staff person called me up and said that we are not allowed to do that kind of thing for Betsy in the future, and I got the impression it was because this woman wanted to put in more paid time and she'd been counting on those extra hours helping Betsy. I felt a bit like saying effing b... myself.

Aside from whatever was the truth in that situation, Betsy just started taking an anti-seizure medicine that is known for causing behavioral problems. I'm not sure exactly what this means in action, but I asked the staff person if this could possibly be a factor. If so, I would think preventing seizures would be more important than some acting out. Or at least they could cut her some slack.

It seems to have happened again the other day, so now that staff person has been reassigned, and I'm hoping the new person is able to get along better with Betsy, and vice-versa. We are all afraid Betsy will lose her apartment and have to return to the group home.

Anyhow, during the game we're having snack-size chips (Betsy's fav is Sun Chips), turkey sub sandwiches with Swiss cheese and sliced tomato, raw vegetables, and some various home-made dips. Betsy and Mr. KTales like chocolate so I'm going to make some brownies or maybe a small cake.

These brownies have rolled oats, so the glycemic index should be healthier.

Oatmeal Brownies
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 cup sifted flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick cooking oats
(1/2 cup chopped nuts)

Combine ingredients in the order given. Mix well. Spread in a greased 8 x 8 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

We never put frosting on our brownies, but I suppose some people can't live without it. This mocha frosting recipe came from my grandmother, who died in 1961, so I guess Starbucks didn't invent 'mocha.' I might make a small batch just to see how it is. We can spread it on graham crackers if nothing else.

Mocha Frosting
1/3 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup strong coffee (about)
1 teaspoon vanilla
(3/4 cup nuts, toasted)

Cream butter. Sift sugar, cocoa, and salt. Add part of sugar to butter gradually. Add rest of sugar alternately with coffee until stiff enough to spread. Sprinkle the chopped nuts on the frosted cake. (or brownies)

Here's another recipe for frosting, adapted from Martha Stewart and how to put it in the graham crackers:

Chocolate Frosted Graham Crackers

12 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons boiling water
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
Pinch of salt

Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Turn off the heat; stir occasionally until chocolate has melted completely, about 15 minutes. Set the bowl on the countertop, and let chocolate cool to room temperature, 25 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the cocoa powder and the boiling water in a small bowl; stir until the cocoa is dissolved.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, confectioners’ sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the melted and cooled chocolate; beat on low speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in cocoa mixture.

Spread on half of the graham crackers, topping with the other half. (It’s nice to align the perforations in the crackers so the sandwich cookies can be broken cleanly.) Wrap stacks of the cookies in wax paper (for old times’ sake), place in freezer bags and freeze.